Widespread stud interest at Moorundie

The 2016 SA Merino selling season has produced some spectacular results and Geoff and Bernadette Davidson notched up another one on Wednesday last week with their 150 rams averaging a ripping $2912- up $1138 on 2015.

It capped off a magical year for Moorundie which topped both the Hamilton Sheepvention and Adelaide multi-vendor ram sales at $30,000 and $40,000 respectively.

At the top end SA, Vic and NSW studs scrambled to secure the top wool sheep with great carcase shape.

The $18,000 sale topper easily smashed the stud’s previous on-property record.

The 17-month-old was knocked down to Bevin and Benji Bury, Jaburee stud, Wilmington who had also been impressed with the stud’s Adelaide team.

They hope the 20.5 micron ram weighing 135 kilograms will leave its mark on their 800 stud ewe flock.

It had top wool tests with a 3.1 standard deviation, 15.1 coefficient of variation and 99.5 comfort factor.

“It is a ram that ticks a lot of boxes. It has long crimpy staple with a good barrel,” Bevin said.

The ram was by home bred sire NE008 which has been breeding well for the stud, and had nearly 40 half brothers in the sale.

Another 19.5 micron NE008 son was snapped up for the $14,000 second top price by the McLachlan family, Tupra Station, Hay, NSW. 

Tupra manager David Rankin said he was impressed by the “scale and bulk of wool” and would use the upstanding ram in their 1500 ram breeding ewe flock. Tupra bought two other lots at $10,000 and $2800.

Lachlan Merinos, Forbes, NSW also bought a NE008 son for $13,000.

Colin Boughen, Kamora Park, Karoonda who bid on stud principal Glen Rubie’s behalf said the was a “rich bold crimper with a pure muzzle and lovely skin.”

Rams went into a huge geographical area from western NSW to high rainfall Vic. 

At the top end John and Wes Daniell, White River, Poochera bought three rams- two at $10,000 and the top priced June shorn ram for $7500.

RT, SL&JM Wilson, Yalda Downs, Broken Hill led the volume buying with 16 rams for a $1144 average.

Other big buyers among the 66 registered buyers included Tiller & Thompson, Hoyelton with seven rams to $5000 av $4107 and Rosebank Pastoral, Casterton, Vic also seven to $2500 av $1729.

Moorundie stud principal Geoff Davidson was pleased with the strong interest from stud breeders but also good value with their commercial clients able to buy many lots for $800 to $1400.

“The productivity of these sheep is what commercial and stud buyers are looking for. They are good carcases, big sirey heads with heavy cutting wools,” Elders stud stock manager Tony Wetherall said.

Spence Dix & Co auctioneer Luke Schreiber said it was an  “exceptional result” and reward for a quality line-up. “There is a lot of interest in where the stud is at and where it is heading.”

Elders and Spence Dix & Co conducted the sale.